aggregate

The environmental and fiscal benefits of using aggregate in construction are no secret. Being able to repurpose recycled materials to lower costs and improve the overall quality of projects is a major advantage that construction aggregates offer to property owners and city planners alike. But how exactly do construction companies use aggregate? If you can’t think of the answer: Don’t worry. We’ve compiled a list that demonstrates that many ways that aggregate is used.

To Strengthen and Support

Construction workers turn to aggregate most often to strengthen and support various structures. Aggregate provides a strong, hard base for workers to build on top of. Its use as a foundation offers a strong yet flexible base for buildings, bridges, and dams. In roads and railway ballast, aggregates are used to resist the overall (static and dynamic) load as well as to distribute the load properly to the supporting ground.

To Drain Water

When used as a foundation, recycled aggregate also greatly improves drainage for buildings. Construction aggregate also allows water to better drain off of road surfaces. Aggregate is one of the main reasons why your vehicle doesn’t simply sink into the soil during wet spells. While water sticks closely to soil particles, it has a harder time holding on to the voids between aggregates so gravity takes over and allows the water to drain.

To Reduce Shrinkage and Cracking

When concrete is mixed, construction workers mix in more water than necessary with the dry components. This extra water results in a difference of moisture content which produces stresses that ultimately are relived when they crack the concrete structure. These are called “Shrinkage Cracks.” Since water doesn’t affect aggregates like it does soils, the use of construction aggregates keep structures from sustaining shrinkage cracks during dry spells.

Do you know any other uses for construction aggregate? Let us know in the comments below!

Aggregate material is generally, gravel, sand, crushed concrete and recycled stone.
Some aggregates are mined, the ones produced by Westside Environmental are recycled from construction sites, building projects, and commercial businesses.

What Kinds of Projects Use Aggregate Material for Construction?

The major end markets for this recycled material are commercial construction, private home residential construction, and publicly-funded projects such as roads, bridges and other infrastructure improvements. Of these markets, public infrasture improvements require the most construction aggregate materials for repairing roads and building highways. Over 1.64 billion metric tons of these green materials were produced in just the first nine months of 2014. This is an increase of 8 percent compared to 2013. More construction sites recycle their materials during deconstruction then ever before. Many project managers use recycled aggregate to save money and go green.

Where to buy or remove Construction Aggregate

It’s great that you want to use recycled, environmentally friendly construction aggregate.
You can contact Westside Environmental to remove waste from your construction site, or you can purchase construction aggregate for your project. We offer both services.

Growing 5% Greener each year

According to a construction reports, (click here) worldwide demand for construction aggregate is set to rise more than 5% yearly through 2017. This has been attributed to the nations in Africa and Asia developing their infrastructure (click here). As more foreign direct investment pours into these regions, these nations industrialize. With this comes parks, roads, homes, apartments, outdoor furniture and more. Now, this may not be as cool as concrete bricks made from recycled landfill waste (click here). These nations know they can build up a growing economy with environmentally friendly construction aggregate(Download Free PDF).

Committed to the Concrete

These growing nations are responding to an economic and environmental crisis. Industrializing means growing consumer demands. This results in creating more products that do not decay(See Government Report). According to Robin L. Schroeder, the author of this government report, “the creation of nondecaying waste materials, combined with a growing consumer population, has resulted in a waste disposal crisis.” But there is hope, “One solution to this crisis lies in recycling waste into useful products.” Westside Environmental happens to agree.

Get Involved and Start Recycling

At your next project or build recommend you use and contribute to construction aggregate recycling. This can lead to tax breaks, LEED qualification, and a planet that can sustain everyone. Sound like a good deal? Then give us a call to see how easy it is to build and recycle. 201.472.1031

Benefits of Aggregate in Construction

This is a great question and one we hear a lot. When construction aggregate is used as a base for buildings or streets, this recycled material adds stability and improved drainage. It is also more environmentally friendly and requires less energy to make. One downside is if you are not using a reliable vendor which specializes in aggregate materials. This can increase the cost of using and sourcing it can add significantly to cost and time of the build project.

How This Saves Money

Adding aggregate to a composite material like concrete can both lower the cost and increase the variety of applications for the product. One small issue is that the overal strength of the material can be weakened when mixing. Using aggregate depends on what kind of project you have. Keep in mind that aggregate is generally recycled and lowers costs. Using aggregate or recycling waste from your site can help you save green by going green.

Recycled Aggregate

Whether you start construction on your home, business, or commercial building a great way to reduce costs is using recycled construction aggregate. It’s a product that is cheaper to manufacture than virgin material aggregate and it’s environmentally friendly too. Any time you use construction aggregate you are diverting waste from a landfill and supporting the green economy.

If you follow our posts, you know we spoke about what recycled aggregate is before. Today we are going to talk about how it can save you money and keep your construction site green.

Go Green – Save Green

When you commit to green construction you end up saving big. The buildings that are made with recycled materials and energy efficiency in mind tend to cost less to create. They also have the added benefit of lower monthly energy bills. Saying “YES!” to recycled materials is a great way to get that initial construction cost down. Check out this link to NBC Nightly news investigating the cost benefits of Green construction.

Next time you are thinking about starting a project, call Westside Environmental at 201.472.1030 and ask about “Aggregate Sales“. We can help you get your construction budget where it needs to be.

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Got any tips for saving money during construction? Let us know in the comments.

What is Recycled Aggregate?

Today we will be exploring the definition, uses, and benefits of recycled aggregate. If you are in construction or roadwork you should listen up. We have news that could save you money while helping the environment.

Seriously, what is Recycled Aggregate?

Recycled aggregate is created by crushing asphalt, concrete, and construction waste. When recycled it is used in roadwork as a road base or in construction. Recently this eco material has been used to create environmentally friendly public street furniture. Its applications are always growing.

Recycled Aggregate is being used to create public street furniture.

Benefits of Recycled Aggregate

Using recycled aggregate saves money for purchasers, local governments and it creates a green economy. Recycled aggregate takes less energy to make than creating brand new material. Westside Environmental believes that when recycling is done correctly, it conserves precious resources. That’s why we have been involved in recycling for over 20 years.

Let’s review the benefits

Environmentally friendly

Cheaper

Helps grow the economy

Where would I use Recycled Aggregate?

Crews usually use recycled aggregate in paved roads as shoulders, aggregate base,and sub-base. It has also been used in gravel roads as surfacing. Most modern buildings have it for building foundation. It is frequently used in construction to fill utility trenches. However, with a little imagination you can use this product almost anywhere.

Recently, the national university of Singapore successfully recycled aggregate and concrete into unusual uses. Primarily they have used it to repair and renovate. But they have made strides in the construction entirely new buildings. As seen in the picture below, they even created public benches out of aggregate. We believe this style of construction is a step towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

Aggregate Concrete benches in Singapore

Give us a call at 201-472-1030 to see if aggregate is right for your project.